Her first cereal. She did great!

My girl doesn’t have stagefright, that’s for sure – even with an audience.

Our girl is 4 months old today.

She’s so beautiful.

We took a long walk today, in the fresh air of the German countryside.

…and today began like every other day since the 18th of August. That is, every day is a Sunrise Day.

Auntie C.C. came to visit – a spur-of-the-moment, deliciously unforeseen and all-too-brief visit, but a visit nonetheless.

She knew just what to do and say to our girl to make her giggle –

- and it was so great to catch up, even if it only lasted for an evening.

So, now, it’s bedtime, and she’s gone – but we miss her already.

“… walks besides you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter’s drawing near. His head is within [your] hand in his old way.”

~ Mary Carolyn Davies

…of scruffy beard, baseball cap … and a pink blanket.

Never thought I’d see the day.

Of course, now that Skye’s here, it seems the most natural scene in the world. 

Two messages. Two, within the last 24 hours from women I admire and who each astound me with their personal strength.  Both messages also made me think, and discover again the significance of 40 days, a recurring number in Christian heritage and belief – and the importance of trusting in the plan for your life – whatever that is.

The first was a note from a member of our family.  She told me that she had been struck with what I have exhibited the last eight years, waiting on God to open the door for the chance to parent a child.  She termed her realization as an “overwhelming awareness of Patience, the first word God chose to describe Love.”  Her beautiful, sensitive reference to the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13:4) brought me to tears.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a paragon of patience…but it’s funny:  in this capacity, I see now that I was.  I always was.

In June of this year, though, I said to John that I was tiring of waiting.  I told him that I was content to wait only until I turned 42.

“If I turn 42 and we have no leads – and no options for a little one,” I said, “then I think we need to content ourselves with being the best uncle and auntie ever.”   He took me in his arms, fresh from a year away from me.  He kissed my hair while I cried, and said he understood.

We got a phone call the next month.  We met Skye’s beautiful mother just a week after that conversation; we were enchanted with her.  I think all of us were moved by the overwhelming sense of peace that seemed to settle over the room as we talked about this little life.

I hoped.

In mid-August, one day shy of 40 days after that phone call, our girl was born.

And one day shy of 40 days after that, I turned 42.

Many nights since, I have thanked God for laughing in the face of my “timeline” and for teaching me to wait on His.

Message number two was from a close friend, who posted this comment to a picture on Facebook of Skye and me today, Skye’s little hand wedged under my chin – both of us sleeping peacefully:

“Look at my friend…she had dodged bullets, worked 18 hour days, and fought for our country , nothing slowed her down….looks like u hv met ur match holly…lol u were born to be a great mother…..just like ur mother…..thank u god for blessing my friend..xxoo.”

I have no words.  So insightful.  So unbelievably kind and open-hearted.  And I love the reference to my own, awesome mom.

These days, my favorite song to sing for Skye is “Lullaby” by the Dixie Chicks.  The languid, easy-to-play guitar rhythm, the hushed-voice style, and most of all, the words – they just get me and say exactly what I’m feeling:

Melissa, you’re right. I have met my match.  He has blessed me for sure, beyond all I could have ever imagined.

More to follow in the days and weeks to come, but here is a quick scene from today – as we waited for Skye’s Bluebird Ornament to be signed by the calligrapher.

We also got her smiling (!) at us on video today…absolutely precious. Of course, I sound like a babbling idiot on it – but I am over the moon for this kid. Skye Smiles

So shoot me.